INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 18

INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS

PHYSICS LABORATORY TESTING OF QUALITIES (From Our Resident Reporter) WELLINGTON, Friday. An amount is being asked by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the creation of a physics laboratory, to engage in the establishment of standards in New Zealand. A larger issue, that of standardisation, has been shelved meantime. The money requested is to be placed on the Estimates if the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research (the Hon. H. Atmore) approves the department’s proposals. The principal difficulty in the way of establishing the laboratory is the fact that new accommodation will have to be provided. This new departure will make possible exact determination of the standards of measurement used in the country, particularly those affecting electrical power and lamps. At present the measurement of this i 3 not on a uniform basis and not strictly correct.

The laboratory will also undertake work of testing the physical properties of articles submitted by firms and private individuals. For this work a small fee will be charged, as at present it is not proposed that the manufacturers, who are expected to make full use of the new service, shall pay anything toward its maintenance. A wider issue for which the establishment of the laboratory is by way of preparation, has been held up because of fears on the part of manufacturers. This is the question of standardisation of New Zealand manufactures so as to enable better production. Manufacturers who first showed great interest in the proposals which have been widely adopted in Australia now fear that the Government may intervene to compel them to manufacture in set shapes and sizes, and consequently until further negotiations have been completed no headway can be made with the scheme. Scientific circles are somewhat disappointed at the failure of the manufacturers to adopt the proposals which are stated to make possible a great saving in manufacturing costs and to increase the facilities for trade because of the 2^ ni l er in which purchasing is simplified through the consumer knowing just what he is ordering.